Itunes 8.0 is already out!

Posted on
September 10, 2008

Apple announces that the next major version of iTunes will be available for download sometime today. iTunes 8 is not jam-packed with new functionality, but the new Genius feature—which boasts smart, automatic playlist creation—has us madly refreshing the iTunes download page. Let's take a closer look at what you can expect from the new iTunes and how it can improve your digital music experience.

The most significant new feature is the new Genius Playlists, a feature that promises to create great playlists for you based on the music in your library. You choose a song, tell iTunes you want it to create a Genius Playlist from that song, and it takes care of the rest. The Genius feature works by analyzing the music in your library and suggesting songs that it thinks will go well with that song.

The second new feature is Grid View, an iPhoto-like way to browse your music library by albums. The Grid view looks a lot like an iPhoto layout, and it provides a way to browse your music library by album without the need to switch to the full-on, graphics-intense Cover Flow.

It's not a lot, but the new Genius feature will hopefully bring a new dimension to your listening habits, helping you re-discover music you already have and possibly discover new music that you don't. You can download Itunes 8.0 here. Let's hear what you think of the new iTunes in the comments.